April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.
In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.
New Jersey Employment Snapshot
In April, New Jersey added 4,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 3,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey added 36,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, New Jersey’s private sector added 3,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 27,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 4,100 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in New Jersey fell by 2,857, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,352.
New Jersey’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.9 percent in April and ranks 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.
New Jersey Payroll Employment
New Jersey added 4,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 3,000 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Jersey added 3,600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 4,100 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Education and Health Services (7,100) and Financial Activities (1,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,800).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (41,300) and Government (8,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-4,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-4,800).
New Jersey Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in New Jersey remained unchanged at 63.9 percent in April.
New Jersey ranks 20th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Jersey was 65 percent occurring in June 2023, and the 10-year low was 60.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in April.